It all started when Kacey and James needed to make changes in their lives. James had recently gotten out of a serious relationship and changed careers. Kacey had been working and going to school in the same places for a decade and was ready to take being a professor seriously.

They became friends while playing Dungeons and Dragons. Kelsey Murphy and Brandon Irey introduced them, invited them to play, and James volunteered to lead almost a dozen drunk goofballs twice a month in a game all about storytelling, adventure, and not taking yourself too seriously. Kacey admired James' ability to tell a story, and James admired her dedication to balancing her career and time with her friends and family.

After James and his ex-girlfriend had broken up, Kacey invited him to visit her house in Cape May. Kacey’s Aunt Val sent them on trips to give them time alone. Meanwhile, Kacey’s mom occasionally scared all of them with her enthusiasm for March Madness. Kacey and James took the classic long walk on the beach and had their first kiss at the end of watching Moana.

Some of James and Kacey’s best memories while dating have been their visits to quaint Winchester, VA, gorgeous Tucson, AZ, and, of course, many trips back to the bay in Cape May.

Just when they thought Cape May could never get more special, James proposed to Kacey during sunset July 3, 2019. Kacey’s mom snuck champagne down to the bay. With written-in-the-stars timing, some early fireworks wrapped up that already perfect moment.